Automatic spark retakjjer for internal combustion engines



Aug. 18, 1931. F. N. TRUAX I 1,819,576

AUTOMATIC SPARK RETARDER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed July 30. 1929 [zwezz/ar FZQZZJ AV 75 2241 Patented Aug. 18, 1931 T'UVNITED STATES PATENT ounce f FRANK n. TBUAX, or ronnA, IOWA AUTOMATIC SPABK BETARDER- FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES 7 Application filed m 2.0, 1929'. Serial No. 332,132.

' This invention relates to improvements in internal combustion engines.

Heretofore considerableVdifliculty has been experienced in-injury to the operator due to 1 preignition of the engine as itis started, due

to'the backfiring of the engine as it is cranked manually. Considerable loss has also been experienced when the electric'starter, is used,

f by hand.

20 to a retarded position, and thus provide means whereby danger of preignition caused by the movable member of the timing mechanism being in an advanced position is eliminated.

My invention consists in the construction,

1 arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and

illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 2

in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of one type of an internal combustion engine showing the manner in which my improved device is applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of same.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

The numeral indicates an internal combustion engine of the type used in automobiles, which is provided with a carburetor 11 and a timer device 12, both of the ordinary construction. The carburetor 11 is provided with a choker valve 13 having a stem 14 and an arm 15 for ope-rating the stem. A spring 16 is provided for normally and yieldably retaining the choker valve 13 in an open and inoperative position. The choker valve 13 is closed to an operative position by advancing the upper end of the lever 15 forwardly.

This is accomplished by means of a rod 17,

one end of which sometimes projects forwardly through the radiator not shown. The choker rod 17 is pulled forwardly as the engine is cranked and released as soon as the engine is started. The spring 16 causes the rod 17 to be moved rearwardlyand the valve 13 to automatically move to an open position. If no spring is used, the rod 17 may be moved The timing mechanism 12 is supported on the forward end of the engine, and 1s provided with a rotatively mounted member 18 carrying electric terminals 19. Rocking movement of the member 18 causes the terminals 19 to be moved to an advanced or retarded position relative to coacting stationary terminal members within the timer.

The member 18' is provided with an arm 20, to which an actuating rod 21 is connected.

The rod 21 is moved longitudinally by the usual timer control mechanism in the usual manner. Adjustably secured to the rod-21 is a collar 22,

Myiimproved device comprises a bracket member 23 havinga supporting plate 24adjustably mounted thereon by means of bolts 25. The bracket-23 is secured against one side of the timer casing 12 by means of a bolt The plate 24 is provided with openings 27 for receiving bolts 28, each having pinion gears 29 and 30 pivotally mounted thereon and in mesh with each other. i

Secured to the upper end of the pinion 29 is a lever arm 31 pivotallyconnectedto the forward end of the rod 17, said rod first having been shortened and provided with a down-turned end portion 32 for entering a suitable openingcin the lever 31. The lever 31 is also provided with a short rod 33 which extends forwardly through the radiator, in place of the outer end of the rod "17. The lever arm 31 is normally suported in a plane parallel with that of the plate 24.

The upper end of the gear 30 is provided with a forwardly extending lever 34, the free end of the lever being providedwith a rod 35, havinga loop portion 36 for slidably receiving-the rod 21, in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 2.

By this arrangement it will readily be seen that if the rods 83 and 17 are moved forwardly to close the choker valve 18, then the free end of the lever 34 will be moved toward the rod 33, causing the loop portion 36 to engage the collar 22 of the rod 21, and the said rod moved to position to retard the timing device, which is accomplished by rotating the member 18 in an anti-clockwise direction as illustrated in Figure 2. As soon as the wire 33 is released, the spring 16 will move the valve 13 to its open position,- causing the rods 17 and 33 to be moved rearwardly and the free end of the lever 34 tobemoved in= wardly toward the timing mechanism, causing the loop 36 to bemoved outwardly from the collar 22, after which the timing member '18 may be actuated in the usual manner without interfering with the operation of the choker device.

In the drawings I have illustrated myimproved device applied to one'type of internal combustion engines used in automobiles. It will readily be seen that by a slight modification ofthe bracket for supporting the gears 29 and 30, and increasing or decreasing the length of the rods 17 and 35, the device may be applied to various types of internalcombustion engines; By removing the nuts from the bolts'28, said bolts may be removed from gears, means for connecting one of said lever arms to the choker operating mechanism of the carburetor choker device, and means for operatively connecting the other lever with the operating means of an ignition timing device, whereby the timing device will be automatically moved to aretarded position as the choke device is moved to aclosed position, and means included in the last said means for operating said timing device independently of the choker operating mechamsm. V e

3. In a device of the class described, a bracket member, a plate adjustably mounted in said bracket member, a pair of spaced and parallel pivot members carried by said plate, a pinion gear for'eac'h of said pivot members mounted in operative relation with each other, a leverarm secured to each of said pinions, means for operatively connecting one of said lev'er arms with a choker operating red, and means for 'operatively connecting the otherarmwith the movable rod for actuating the timing-mechanism of an ignition system, the last said means including a slip connection device whereby the timer operating rod may be actuat d without operating said choker. V g

' FRANK N, TRUAX.

the plate 24 so that the relative angular position of the members 31 and 34L may be varied to 1118611 requirements of various types of engines. I

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a device of simple, durable and inexpensive construction,'wl'1ich may be easily and quickly applied to an internal combustion engine, and when so applied, the movable member of the timing mechanism of the ignition system will be automatically moved 'to'a retarded'position each time'the choker valve is operated, thereby providing means whereby backfiring of the engine, due to an advanced ignition, will be eliminated, and the number of injurie'scaus'ed by backfi'ring greatly decreased. r

I claim as my invention:

'1" In combination, aninternal co-" bustion engine having a timing device in the ignition system provided with a movable member for advancing and retarding the igniti'o'nperi'od of said system, a carburetor choker device,

means for moving the choker device to open and closed positions, and means actuated by the closing movement of said choker operating mechanism for automatically moving the movable member of said timing device to a retarded position, and means ln'cluded 1n the last said means for operating said timing device independently of the choker operating mechanism. 7

2; In a device of the class described, a bracket, a pair of coacting gears carried by said bracket, a lever arm fixed to each of said 

